During its big WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple didn't spend much time on watchOS 27. In fact, Apple didn't spend much time on any specific OS at all. Instead, the event was about Apple Intelligence and how the new Siri AI is integrated throughout Apple's apps and platforms. While the Apple Watch had a few "blink and you'll miss it" moments, it got very little airtime, but that doesn't mean that the watch is left out in the dust: watchOS 27 comes with a new app layout, a brand new gesture, and yes, the updated Liquid Glass design is here too. Here's what's new, assuming your Apple Watch is supported.
watchOS 27: Siri AI is front and center
Credit: Apple
As you might expect with this new set of updates, it's all about Siri and Siri AI. The Siri app will be available on the Apple Watch, so you can access all your Siri chats without using your phone. The watchOS Siri app supports the same conversational Siri as Apple's other products, so you can "chat" with Apple's assistant if you want. Siri AI for watchOS is not rolling out yet, though, and it's not a part of the current developer beta cycle. Apple says it's coming out in beta later this year.
Finding the right app on your Apple Watch is a chore, whether you use the "Honeycomb" view or the List view. Now, when you press the Digital Crown, you'll see a dynamic view of six apps that watchOS will suggest based on your usage history. If the app you're looking for isn't here, you can tap "All Apps" to view all installed apps on your Apple Watch. I could see this feature being useful if it works well, but I could also see it adding one more layer of frustration to the mix. We will find out soon enough.
watchOS 27: More insights in Workout Buddy
Workout Buddy, the voice coach that shows up during workouts, is getting smarter. It will now motivate you using new data insights like pace, distance, and workout duration. It's also coming in Spanish, and now works without an iPhone nearby.
What do you think so far?
watchOS 27: A new single-tap gesture
watchOS already has some useful gestures: You can double-tap to do things like answer calls and reply to messages, and flick your wrist to dismiss notifications. In watchOS 27, there's now a single-tap gesture exclusively for the Smart Stack widgets. To try it, use the double-tap gesture to open and move between all the widgets in the Smart Stack. Then, tap once with your index finger and your thumb to quickly open the highlighted widget or app. That way, you can open apps from the watch face, without even touching the screen.
watchOS 27: An array of smaller changes
A couple of noteworthy features to talk about:
New mute button for notifications: When you open a notification on your Apple Watch and scroll down, you will see a new Mute button. You can use it to mute app notifications for an hour.
Redesigned Find My app: Apple redesigned Find My on watchOS to give you location updates for your family members (and devices) as soon as you open the app.
More Smart Stack suggestions: Your Apple Watch will provide more proactive suggestions in the Widget sections. Birthday updates, parked car location, and more will show up more frequently.
Some general improvements: Apple says that music playback on the Apple Watch now starts faster, and that the step count on the watch now syncs with the Health app on the iPhone.
QR code in the Wallet app: You can now create a custom pass for any membership or card that uses a QR code, and you can access the code from the Wallet app on your Apple Watch.
